RFU director of elite rugby Rob Andrew has insisted Brian Ashton will not be sacked following England’s Six Nations campaign.

The former England fly-half said that he was not considering a change of coach before England’s summer tour of New Zealand.

England haven’t lifted the Six Nations trophy since their World cup-winning year of 2003, when they completed a Grand Slam under Clive Woodward, and Ashton has come under pressure after his side lost to Wales in the opening match of this year’s championship, and then to Scotland last weekend.

But Andrew told the Times newspaper that he would not make a ‘kneejerk’ reaction to yet another poor campaign and pointed to the fact that England have the least experienced side in the tournament.

“There was huge expectation because we reached the World Cup final,” said Andrew. “Then a lot of experience left the side. But there is plenty of confidence about where the English game is going.”

Ashton has faced criticism for some of his decisions, notably dropping Danny Cipriani for the Scotland match for ‘inappropriate behaviour’ after the youngster was photographed leaving a nightclub ahead of what would have been his full debut.

Having replaced Jonny Wilkinson with Cipriani for this weekend’s game against Ireland, Ashton has also been under fire for making no other changes following England dismal display at Murrayfield.

Further pressure has been heaped on Ashton with South Africa’s World Cup-winning coach Jake White being strongly linked with his job in recent days.